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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
North Carolina 78, East Tennessee St. 55
When: 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, December 8, 2012
Where: Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Officials: # Garry Maxwell, # Brian Shey, # Alan Spainhour
Attendance: 17307

No. 16 North Carolina 78, East Tennessee State 55: Leslie McDonald led a balanced offense with 14 points as the Tar Heels took a big early lead and cruised past the visiting Buccaneers.

Freshman Brice Johnson chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Reggie Bullock added 10 points for North Carolina (7-2), which had 30 assists on 31 field goals. The Tar Heels held East Tennessee to 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, the fewest for a half ever at the Dean Smith Center.

Hunter Harris scored the first two points of the game for East Tennessee State (2-5) before the Tar Heels ran off the next 15. Bullock had the first seven in the run and North Carolina kept going to open up a 34-4 lead as the Buccaneers missed 17 of their first 19 shots.

Johnson and McDonald each had eight points in the first half as the Tar Heels settled for a 42-12 lead at the break. North Carolina forced 13 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and the Buccaneers, who finished with a season low in points for a half, were 5-of-26 from the field.

Rashawn Rembert led the way with 18 points -- all in the second half -- for East Tennessee State. Leading scorer Lester Wilson registered 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Harris had 11 points for the Buccaneers.

GAME NOTEBOOK: East Tennessee State was without freshman PG Petey McClain for the second straight game due to an ankle injury. McClain is averaging 3.6 assists. … Tar Heels freshman PG Marcus Paige returned after missing one game with a shoulder injury, contributing three points and seven assists. … North Carolina has won all six meetings with the Buccaneers.
Top Game Performances
 
East Tennessee St.   North Carolina
Rashawn Rembert 18 Scoring Leslie McDonald 14
Rashawn Rembert 3 Assists Marcus Paige 7
Lester Wilson 11 Rebounds Brice Johnson 8
John Walton 4 Free Throws Made Jackson Simmons 2
Rashawn Rembert 3 Steals P.J. Hairston 2
Hunter Harris 1 Blocks P.J. Hairston 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
East Tennessee St. 55 33.9 7-24 6-12 8 37 3 9 22
North Carolina 78 42.5 11-31 5-7 30 40 3 13 14